Last month, one of my push-notification experiments gave me a 14% uplift in revenue. It reminded me of the power this small feature can hold when used thoughtfully. I decided to share a few key learnings from top-performing mobile games and how you can apply them to bring users back and increase their lifetime value (LTV).
Push notifications are the only direct way to reach users when they are not in your app. Used well, they bring players back, create habits, and drive revenue. Used poorly, they irritate users and lead to opt-outs or uninstalls.
Let’s look at how to do it right.
The Three Stages
Every successful push notification strategy has three simple stages:
- Ask for permission. Without it, you can’t send PNs to your users.
- Create notifications that get attention. They should be short, personal, and relevant.
- Give value inside the app. So users click again in the future.
Push notifications work best in the early stages of the user journey when players are still exploring your game. At that stage, they might forget about the app. A small reminder at the right time can bring them back.
Stage 1: Asking for Permission
Since Android 13, both iOS and Android need users to opt in before you can send notifications. So, getting permission is the…